Few turn out for first day of voting

Barney W. Hill (left) and Russell Byerly, both of Thomasville, vote Thursday morning at the Davidson County Board of Elections. The two were the first Davidson County residents to take advantage of the early voting period.

Published: Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 3:02 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 3:02 p.m.

Davidson County's local government watchdog says he wishes there was more competition to be the first voter of the 2013 municipal elections.

"I wish we had to fight to get in there," Barney W. Hill of Thomasville said Thursday, about an hour after being the first to cast a ballot at the Davidson County Board of Elections office in Lexington.

As expected, there was light turnout on the first day of the early voting period, which lasts through Nov. 2.

Voters can cast ballots early at the board of elections office off North Main Street in Lexington from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Nov. 1. Voting will take place 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the elections headquarters.

Next week, early voting will commence at the Thomasville Library on Randolph Street from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday through Nov. 1. Early voting will also be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the library.

Hill and his uncle, Russell Byerly, were the only ones in line when the polls opened Thursday. Hill said he was also first to vote two years ago.

"I'm able to do the city election pretty well," Hill said. "Usually, I can't be the first one on an even-numbered election year because I'm still trying to find out some information about who's running for soil and water conservation. But the city ballot is easy."

Hill's readiness to vote early stems somewhat from tradition. "It's kind of a ritual," he said, recalling when he and his cousin would try to wake up early enough to be the first ones at the Thomasville 10 precinct. "Sometimes we'd be successful, and other times we weren't."

In Hill's opinion, early voting is also the most intelligent and logistical option. He said his father died only a few days before a primary.

"What if you became immobilized and were not able to vote, but waited until Election Day?" Hill said. "You'd be out of a vote."

Thirty people voted by about 4:30 p.m. Thursday. This year, about 31,865citizens are eligible to vote in the municipal elections, said Ruth Huneycutt, director of the Davidson County Board of Elections.

Huneycutt, who predicted a light turnout for early voting, also said the entire election will cost about $43,000.

Municipal Election Day is scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5. About 20 precincts will be open throughout the county.

Contested races are:

• Scott S. Morris (incumbent) and Larry Ward for Denton mayor.

• Deanna Chandler Grubb (incumbent), Wayne Plaster (incumbent), Kenny Small and Myra Smith for two seats on the Denton Town Council.

<p>Davidson County's local government watchdog says he wishes there was more competition to be the first voter of the 2013 municipal elections.</p><p>"I wish we had to fight to get in there," Barney W. Hill of Thomasville said Thursday, about an hour after being the first to cast a ballot at the Davidson County Board of Elections office in Lexington.</p><p>As expected, there was light turnout on the first day of the early voting period, which lasts through Nov. 2.</p><p>Voters can cast ballots early at the board of elections office off North Main Street in Lexington from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Nov. 1. Voting will take place 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the elections headquarters.</p><p>Next week, early voting will commence at the Thomasville Library on Randolph Street from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday through Nov. 1. Early voting will also be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the library.</p><p>Hill and his uncle, Russell Byerly, were the only ones in line when the polls opened Thursday. Hill said he was also first to vote two years ago.</p><p>"I'm able to do the city election pretty well," Hill said. "Usually, I can't be the first one on an even-numbered election year because I'm still trying to find out some information about who's running for soil and water conservation. But the city ballot is easy."</p><p>Hill's readiness to vote early stems somewhat from tradition. "It's kind of a ritual," he said, recalling when he and his cousin would try to wake up early enough to be the first ones at the Thomasville 10 precinct. "Sometimes we'd be successful, and other times we weren't."</p><p>In Hill's opinion, early voting is also the most intelligent and logistical option. He said his father died only a few days before a primary.</p><p>"What if you became immobilized and were not able to vote, but waited until Election Day?" Hill said. "You'd be out of a vote."</p><p>Thirty people voted by about 4:30 p.m. Thursday. This year, about 31,865citizens are eligible to vote in the municipal elections, said Ruth Huneycutt, director of the Davidson County Board of Elections.</p><p>Huneycutt, who predicted a light turnout for early voting, also said the entire election will cost about $43,000.</p><p>Municipal Election Day is scheduled from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5. About 20 precincts will be open throughout the county.</p><p>Contested races are: </p><p>• Scott S. Morris (incumbent) and Larry Ward for Denton mayor. </p><p>• Deanna Chandler Grubb (incumbent), Wayne Plaster (incumbent), Kenny Small and Myra Smith for two seats on the Denton Town Council. </p><p>• The Rev. Dr. Herbert Miller II and Ronald Reid (incumbent) for Lexington City Council Ward 1. </p><p>• Linwood Bunce (incumbent) and Gary Fancy for Lexington City Council Ward 3. </p><p>• John Byrum (incumbent), Lynn Griggs, Keith Leonard, Randy Lovett and Robin Moon (incumbent) for three seats on Midway Town Council. </p><p>• Joe G. Bennett (incumbent), Earl Harrison and J.W. Mathis for Thomasville mayor.</p><p>• Ronald Bratton, Jay W. Browning, Rhonda J. Florence, Neal Grimes (incumbent), Joe Leonard, Joel Pierce (incumbent), Carl Shatley, Pat Shelton (incumbent), Scott Styers (incumbent), Jason Varner, Johnny West and Raleigh York Jr. (incumbent) for Thomasville City Council. </p><p>Uncontested races are: </p><p>• Newell Clark (incumbent) for Lexington mayor. </p><p>• Tobin Shepherd for Lexington City Council Ward 2 and Wayne Alley (incumbent) for Lexington City Council Ward 4. </p><p>• Allen Todd (incumbent) for Wallburg mayor. </p><p>• Zane Hedgecock (incumbent) and Steve Yokeley (incumbent) for Wallburg Town Council. </p><p>Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com. Follow Nash on Twitter: @LexDispatchNash</p>